A game won by class, fitness, confidence and team play.

Unfortunately, it was the opposition who displayed these qualities in the most part, as Cambridge South 3rds ran out comfortable winners, with six goals in each half.

However, there were some high points for the embattled 4ths…

A goal shortly before half time by captain Greaves, wrong-footing the home skipper playing kicking-back, to belt the ball into goal from the top of the D. Greaves was unlucky shortly after half time as a deft piece of footwork denied him a second goal following a neat dribble in one of the 4ths’ rare attacks.

Thoughout the game, stand-in keeper Andy Thomas stood up to the barrage with many blocks using different parts of his anatomy, and sometimes his actual hockey stick. Andy was rewarded by saving one of the 3rds’ two penalty strokes as he intimidated Joe Whittaker sufficiently for him to deliver the ball rather more slowly than intended. Joe did get six goals through the game though, so success is all relative.

The central defensive duo of JSid and The Rock were awesome as always, but the 3rds always seemed to have an extra outfield player. Which they did.

When the 4ths did attack, the Ho brothers, Pip and Laurie, were prominent and man of the match Tom Steed found such gaps as there were, but a solitary short corner was scant reward.

The 4ths bid farewell to Div 5NW…for now. Battle scarred after a tough season, but with heads held high, as we kept trying to play as a team, with improvement as the season went on and steadfast commitment to the cause in spite of often superior opponents.